The Real-Life Towns Behind Red Dead Redemption II

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[@DetChesmond]

I've been saying since the original game that someone on the development team had to be inspired by my area (grew up one town over from Pittsburg, right on the edge of the Black Diamond Mines.) My house was a 5 minute walk from the historic Williamson Ranch, once owned by Bill Williamson, and a few streets down is the old run-down barn that remains of McFarlane Ranch. One of the main roads through town is Balfour, and I shit you not I went to high school with a kid named Ciaran Duffy (different spelling, but pronounced the same ) The shoutout to Pittspurg in this video just makes it weirder

[@filmsbyhen]

This is insane

[@KevinWhite-zb5os]

Well done! I would like to hear an explanation of the serpent mound, which last I checked there was one in Ohio, Michigan and maybe West Virginia (where all the good Ginseng is found)@@filmsbyhen

[@KevinWhite-zb5os]

THAT... is INSANE! I bet a dev lives out that way.

[@llamapinata4819]

Valentine is also in Nebraska so is all of heart lands 😊

[@DetChesmond]

@@filmsbyhen Forgot to mention, just outside of town, adjacent to Black Diamond, is also a regional preserve/historic ranching area that still looks untouched by time and has some run-down remnants of old farms and settlements. Looks exactly like the border region between West Elizabeth and New Austin. The name of that preserve? Morgan Territory, after an Anglo-American pioneer from the 1860's who founded Morgan Ranch and the Morgan Red Corral.

[@ibabcock89]

Fun fact: Originally in RDR2's development, Saint Denis was originally supposed to be named New Bordeaux. If that sounds familiar, that's became that was the name of Mafia 3's fictionalized version of New Orleans. So when Mafia 3 developers, Studio 13, contacted Rockstar to inform them that the name New Bordeaux was already taken, Rockstar agreed to change it to Saint Denis.

[@SpidaMez]

happy they did that, Saint Denis just sounds better tbh

[@rickytricky5719]

​​@@SpidaMezSAWHN DENEEYH

[@user-ze1nm8pw4f]

A missed opportunity for a shared universe since they take place in different times.

[@0902_]

​@@user-ze1nm8pw4fThat would mean that GTA V and GTA IV are also in the same universe as Mafia games and we don't have the same cities in GTA and Mafia games

[@Ward413]

I always just assumed they used New Bordeaux as a place holder name since both Hanger 13 and Rockstar are under the Take2 umbrella. Perhaps before they officially named the town but they obviously knew it was to be based on New Orleans, they simply used New Bordeaux before coming up with their own name. That’s the vibe I got. Is there a source or article that mentions this phone call between Hanger 13 and Rockstar and then requesting a change? With them both being Take2 I just always thought it was more plausible that it was an internal placeholder name oppose you both companies coming up with the same fictional name.

[@filmsbyhen]

Like for a part 2 covering Rhodes, Tumbleweed, Armadillo, Butcher Creek, colter, and Lagras!

[@thedevilseyez1978]

Just stumbled onto your channel… I salute you sir, new subscriber here 🫡

[@RandyJamesMix]

If you would, friend. Nerds like me love this

[@matthalpin1981]

@@RandyJamesMix Count me in, too. This was an awesome video and alerted me to many great locations that I need to visit if the chance arises.

[@michaeldebidart]

Dew it

[@grafzahl4698]

What´s with Wapiti Indian Reservation? :)

[@aidenguzman3510]

This 10 minute video about a fictionalized United States is more informative than my hour long US history class

[@aSchizophrenicwithagun]

Wouldnt it so much easier to teach kids with video game logic and phrases.

[@filmsbyhen]

@@aSchizophrenicwithagunminecraft: education edition!

[@Reddeaddimesion]

@@filmsbyhen They don’t use that anyway though

[@jamiewalsh9184]

Maybe just listen in the history class and youll find it interesting 😂

[@Reddeaddimesion]

Your right I’m just sayin

[@cadence4527]

This is what I love about RDR2. There are so many historical references to both period history as well as more recent events that many can often fly over a person’s head and go completely unnoticed. History nerds can go absolutely crazy with this game, nerding out at the smallest of references. Some in-game mysteries can be solved by simply looking at real life history.

[@ballsballsballs3617]

Rockstar genuinely cares about the games they put out. Same reason y I have never felt like they need to rush gta6, cuz those mfs r in the middle of making the most ground breaking video game ever made

[@matthalpin1981]

One year I took the family on a road trip through Colorado and we visited Old Bent's Fort. I was stunned at how it looked EXACTLY like Fort Mercer from the original Red Dead Redemption. My kids were amazed at how I could guess what was waiting in each room of the fort before we even entered those rooms.

[@onlygas-420]

Damn that's actually amazing

[@ChingChangWallah.]

Excellent. I'm sure you play the same game with new covers of old songs.

[@matthalpin1981]

@@ChingChangWallah. LOL That's a great idea. I should do that!

[@SoSS_Operator]

that's dope man, rockstar if anything you can give them credit for really nails their environments down

[@no.7893]

@@SoSS_Operator I'd argue it's the best part of all of their games

[@voldlifilm]

I think Red Dead 2 is a perfect example of justifying a small open world by making it extremely detailed and deep. On the scale of states, towns and cities in real life the game map is ridiculously tiny, but in terms of being a playspace full of content and things to explore it works perfectly.

[@leozeraA1000]

Small open world? It's literally twice the size of GTA V map bro.

[@voldlifilm]

@@leozeraA1000 Yes, and that's tiny as well. Think about how big a state really is, how many towns and cities it has. Compared to that its extremely tiny. Most game worlds are ridiculously small.

[@smh3920]

@leozeraA100 gta 5s map is bigger, u just have cars to fly by everything way faster

[@yamahaguy1732]

@@smh3920it’s not tho

[@Violeto777]

rdr2 has one of the biggest open world maps ever

[@quinnobi]

Valentine certainly takes inspiration from Ogallala and Valentine, Nebraska. Ogallala is very similar to Cheyenne in terms of function but smaller and was the most dangerous town in NE in the late 1800s. Valentine NE is nestled along the Niobrara River and South Dakota (where there was a large population of Sioux) so the scenery is similar as well as its name. It was a town that didn’t really get its feet under it until 1884 which also coincides with the games timeline as we see Valentine is well established in 1899 and still growing.

[@quinnobi]

And because I accidentally edited it out - great video!

[@calvinjluther]

Ugh. Ogallala. I hate that town.

[@jewelsverne9027]

There is also a Valentine, Texas. Its name refers to the date of its founding in 1882 by a Southern Pacific Railroad construction crew: February 14

[@sonnipetersen1708]

Thanks for sharing your information, very informative :)

[@Rootiga]

the "great plains" and area near valentine 100% correlate to nebraska. Ive been to cheyenne and it looks just like blackwater which is clearly supposed to be denver

[@danielsatter1805]

Saint Denis blew me away when I first arrived. I've always had romanticized New Orleans from that time period due to films like Interview with the Vampire and when I first arrived in Saint Denis in game it was night time. It was so unlike any other place in the game and was one of the moments where I fell in love with the game some more.

[@kurunzi8614]

I’ve played RDR2 three times now, and too this day its still one of my favorite games. While watching this video I could still remember the feeling I had when I came across some of these towns. Specifically Strawberry and St. Denis, in both cases I came across them early on while exploring the map in chapter 2. I was immediately enamored by Strawberry while in St. Denis I felt like completely uncomfortable and I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. For me that shows how amazing the world building and immersion this game provides. By the way you forgot to mention the “red dust bowl” of Rhodes 😅. Great vídeo 👍🏼

[@Walterblack278]

I live in the actual town of strawberry

[@alexspata]

Man, when I visited Strawberry for the first time in game, it was dawn, evening...I would never forget those lights throughout the village and the sounds of the cascade, it felt too real, like I was in a resort, it blew my mind and it will stick with me forever...

[@yamahaguy1732]

I’m on my third playthrough and man it just doesn’t get old such a lively world and absolutely love the time period!

[@yamahaguy1732]

@@alexspataI can sit in strawberry for hours

[@alexspata]

@@yamahaguy1732 you can install graphics mods to make it even better

[@straitouttatexas.]

Never thought so much solid, detailed information could be packed into an almost 11-minute video!! Absolutely incredible job, sir. You have my respect for the research, presentation, and format haha. Watched it the whole way through and my attention was never lost! Even the historical pictures that you offered for comparison were phenomenal. Take it easy after that! 🤝

[@JAWS]

Love the video, been waiting on something like this for a while. One other thing to add to Strawberry and its location is Mt Shan being inspired by Mt Shasta in California. The real Strawberry is not near Shasta, but Shasta does have quite a few resort towns around it. A lot of mysteries in RDR2 can be found on or around Mt Shan, whereas the real life Shasta is the American capital of missing 411 cases, paranormal sightings, and so on. Just another cool set of detail that makes me love this game.

[@Farumazula762]

using the django ost is literally perfection

[@chubbschubbs2x]

Annesburg may be based off a Cali mining town but I live over here in coal country PA (Appalachian mountain range) and the similarities between that region of the map and my region irl back during that time is 150% spot on based off of all the photos I’ve seen and stories I’ve heard over the years, my point is I’m still gonna claim Annesburg as a representation of Appalachian PA/WV, plus it’s on the east side of the map lol 👍🏼

[@coachacola3755]

Roanoke Ridge are the ozarks

[@chubbschubbs2x]

@@coachacola3755 the Ozarks seem way too southern/centered in the US for Roanoke ridge to be based off of them, like how the Appalachians stretch up the Northeast corridor of the US, Roanoke Ridge does the same in rdr2

[@easymac24]

I'm live a few towns from Pittsburgh CA, and I've always racked my brain trying to see similarities.

[@coachacola3755]

@@chubbschubbs2x the Lanahasse river is the Mississippi

[@Rokume]

As a fellow Pennsylvanian living near a old coal town (we have alot of them lmao) I always called Annesburg the PA town in red dead cuz of how similar it is to out here. Just gives off those vibes

[@andrewlowden322]

Lannaahechee is pronounced "Lan uh HAH See". When you go fishing with Javier in Ch3 Javier pronounces the CH and Arthur corrects him, noting even though its spelled with a CH, it is the S sound. Funny because he had just gone off on the German guy he rescued ("how did someone come up with them words???") and now he's an etymologist extraordinaire!

[@musicaleuphoria8699]

There are so many names of places in the US that are never pronounced how their spelt, either from other languages influences or just misconceptions. Makes it humorous to see that play out.

[@Smokeyjoedamanedamythdalegend]

I like just hanging out in the towns wandering around. I did it this morning and the game was already set to morning. I was walking around in first person watching all the town folks yawning and waking up too. The realism is amazing

[@the_cowpoke]

That was a great video man, Keep up the great work. I love red dead 2 so much for it's story and world building, it's one of the most immersive gaming experiences one can have.

[@Jennifer-jt9cb]

I know we have Blackwater, Rhodes, and Valentine here in Missouri, but I never would have thought it could have been any inspiration for a town in the game. I've been to Blackwater tons of times, but aside from the name, I never really noticed any similarities. I feel honored that there's a possibility of us being an inspiration.

[@MisterMischiefGaming]

Rhodes is just an amalgamation of the states of Georgia, Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and Mississippi. The name Rhodes is likely a play on the city Athens, Georgia. It’s also the only place in game where you can buy fresh peaches. Georgia is known for its peaches.

[@Jennifer-jt9cb]

@@MisterMischiefGaming Very true. But considering their proximity to each other, I just thought it would be interesting to bring up.

[@MisterMischiefGaming]

@@Jennifer-jt9cb Yeah. The names are sometimes based off of real locations that are in the region. Sometimes they’re not. I’ve seen people suggest Blackwater is actually modeled after Dallas. And I’ve seen other arguments that make better cases than this one. The developers certainly take creative liberties. But Annesburg being based in Pittsburgh, California doesn’t really make sense to me. That entire part of the map is an amalgamation of Appalachia; states like western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, etc. The inspiration for the mining town is reminiscent of a dozen towns in Western PA and other WV. I don’t know why the OP seems to think that so much of the game is based in California territories. They aren’t. Most of Big Valley, Talk Trees, Strawberry, etc, is the California territory and it’s appropriately placed in the western part of the map.

[@SeriousDragonify]

​​​@@MisterMischiefGamingCan't be California territory. New Austin is based on Texas and Mexico together and north of NA (which probably would be in 3rd game) is either Arizona or Colorado. Some parts of the map makes no sense in RDR world. The big rocks at Valentine (on the way to Oil Field Company) is inspiration of location in Midwest. Like i said, some parts of the map don't add up. And Arthur mentioned being near Canada border with Uncle conversation while going with stealing the cattle and other was with Javier about the coach robbing in Nevada during fishing. I think.

[@Yehhbb]

​@@MisterMischiefGamingyour wrong I have a peach tree an not in gaygeria

[@sanjizorroux]

The music in the background is perfect with the story telling and pictures of the game. As a French, very happy to find your channel and understand easily. That’s a big congratulations and thank you, great work !

[@armelvillard7905]

need the title brother plz

[@gewfhrefnjkr3724]

Would like to take the time to say your writing is excellent. Informative, concise, interesting and seamless links between one town and the next. Great video

[@kiwi22ism]

Meat riding fr

[@Tiredofdawgz]

Well done on the production of this. Really loved all the photos you compiled.

[@hellomimibanana]

Really appreciate the work that went into this video. Lots of researching. Thank you for bringing it to us!

[@vennomation]

i'm so excited for this one, just looking through the video i think another inspiration for blackwater could be galveston, texas, which i've been to and looks a decent amount like it (it's also a low-elevation port city). the part that looks like blackwater is called "the strand", and many of the areas there and around there also look like st denis/new orleans

[@THEKARABOON]

Thank you very much for making this video, I can only imagine how much hard work you put in to this. Folks like you are true KZbinrs

[@WebOfTwilight]

Very informative, my friend! I really enjoy videos like this.

[@doctorsquatch7665]

Love your content dude, so laid back and down-to-earth.

[@orionsarrow1025]

I grew up in California and West Elizabeth is where I go when I’m feeling nostalgic. The northern part of the map reminds me of Mariposa County, and down towards Strawberry it reminds me of Lake Tahoe area. (I’ve actually passed through Strawberry, CA once on the way to go snowshoeing at Donner Lake) Tall Trees is so *obviously* a parallel to Big Trees, CA where they have a lot of gigantic Sequoias. And While it’s easy to compare the Great Plains in the game to the irl counterpart, it reminds me so much of the hills in the California Valley, you might see in Kings County up to El Dorado County. California is too crazy to live in these days but my goodness to I miss how darn beautiful the nature is in that state

[@MistressMediSin]

Oh man, this was so good and well done that I was bummed that it ended. As a history nerd who loves this game more than any other, I thank you!

[@glennhiscock478]

What a truly fantastic piece this is! Educational, nostalgic and straight to the point.

[@alexspata]

man this video was brilliant, quality content, documented, interesting and straight to subject, I love it

[@ianashby3626]

Love red dead redemption 2

[@stonecoldstunner12]

I appreciate you researching all of this amazing information!

[@TheSikadelik]

That video was amazing! You deserve so much more views and subscribers bro!

[@conductormike3step]

How does this guy not have more subscribers? Excellent video!

[@logangiraffe]

Really enjoyed this nice work!

[@kaylaleiann]

great video!! Subbbed, can't wait for PT2!

[@Birdman32]

Love this video. Great job, man

[@BLiNDGRAViTY]

Neat video! Enjoyed watching and learning. Pretty cool how close some of the real pics compare to the game.

[@williamschmidt9331]

I absolutely subbed (and liked) to your channel. You do a fantastic job storytelling and describing things. Good luck in college, and please keep up the rdr2 tidbits I am loving it ❤😂

[@Nativityin6lack]

Very well done! I was saddened when the video ended lol, I could have watched for hours.

[@Pseudopilot]

Great work on this video!! So much Information. Thanks!!

[@user-oq8ur8eq6e]

As someone who lives in the East Bay of California, I wouldn’t have ever thought or guessed that one of the towns next to me could have possibly inspired a town from this amazing game! Makes me love it even more! Great video👏

[@skrillozedd]

Great videp! What a gpod job, you got my sub with this one 👌

[@marcuspaulooliveira946]

Excellent work! Congrats!

[@blacksheepmike9101]

Great job!!! I love RDR2, this video was very interesting to me.

[@maxgilson5910]

I love your videos so much But almost every time It just really makes me want to play rdr2. I love how different your style and types of videos are from usual red dead content :)

[@oedipus_]

i love the way u talk in ur videos lmao, amazing video once again 🔥

[@jasoncamp483]

Thank you for a very informative video. That was so well done.

[@snorrevolden5612]

you got urself a new subscriber. great video!!!!

[@matthalpin1981]

Excellent video. So thorough!

[@megabittech]

Amazing video. Subscribed.

[@technocuno]

Dude I love this video man!! 👍🏾🔥❤️

[@allisvanity445]

This is so cool, I always wondered this and now I'm looking forward to part two to see the other ones

[@iamsuzerain3987]

Nicely done...enjoyed watching👍

[@jewishspacelaseroperator5410]

Since 2015, Strawberry, California’s population has dropped to just 5 people.

[@alexsmith3103]

Nice job. Very informative!

[@devin7tm]

I like that you added music from Django. It’s a nice touch.

[@jonesthewhisperer5358]

Nice vid nice voice nice channel ! Keep on goin bro big greetings from Germany 🇩🇪

[@C1DIP]

Awesome video man.

[@JaCKso00onBOY]

Great video man

[@BathSaltShaman]

I think I read that New Hanover wasn’t based on Appalachia but actually the Missouri Ozarks. It makes more sense imho because it makes the Lannachee plausible, but mostly because Appalachia wasn’t part of the Wild West at all, as it’s on the complete polar opposite end of the country.

[@joeldaniels-akacringeevery7650]

same i thought the same

[@lol-un6nl]

lousiana and Appalachia being the polar opposites of the wild west is kinda the point of the story

[@BathSaltShaman]

@@lol-un6nl I mean yeah, they were heading east but West Virginia/Kentucky is a WAY, way bigger trek from where they were than Louisiana was. Considering the fact too that Appalachia was long populated/modernized with strong law by this point, unlike NH. The Ozarks were still like this then, add in the fact NH is on the same side of the “Mississippi river” as Lemoyne and sits directly north of it the same as Missouri sits over Louisiana, why I’m leaning towards that.

[@hlhumbert8481]

Appalachia was the original wild West. Our history is just as gnarly as what you hear about on the frontier when it comes to coal and oil barons, mining towns, crime and unlawfulness. Plus, we get a ridiculous amount of rain (which is always falling in chapter 6 of RDR2).

[@patrickscully4786]

The gang life, Jesse James crew, was based in the Midwest. Which makes sense that Dutch was moving from the prairies of Missouri/Kansas, down to New Orleans over to the rockies

[@micktorrans8123]

Didnt realise how much I needed this video

[@StolenAlias]

I must say, these videos are very high quality. Well researched, perfectly spoken, throughly informative, and entertaining. The only thing I can nitpick on is the loop of the different soundtracks from the game, Django, and the dollars films. Just a bit distracting. Other than that 10/10.

[@Silentdragon2012]

Look bro. I stumbled upon your channel randomly and have watched a ton of videos. I even reinstalled rdr2 and rdr to replay them both. Thank you. Edit: you also earned a sub. Forgot to add that.

[@josephgonzo]

Half the video i couldn't even pay attention because i was listening to the background music, nice choice with good the bad and the ugly. Respect 👍

[@DisForDave]

That was quite an enjoyable video, thanks.

[@Bruno_bm151]

Great content, you should do more of this.

[@dimmacommunication]

Very nice video :) was cool to learn about it

[@jordanrose1765]

Valentine also took a lot of inspiration from Deadwood. The muddy ground and sheep trading being a large part of that. Theres also a burned down town near vslentine which is also a regerence to deadwood, which got its name from the countless times tbe town was burned down and rebuilt nearby

[@alyssa0411]

I was visiting a lake in California in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It’s called “Upper Salmon Lake” and located off of Gold Lake Highway, about 45 miles +- NW of Truckee. That lake, with the granite boulders, pine trees and even a small island reminded me so much of O’Creagh’s Run. Obviously the lake is way too small and unknown to make it over to someone over at R* but the scenery at O’Creagh’s is very similar to what you see around Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountain range.

[@kennypowers1945]

Who knows they coulda found that very lake and thought to put something similar in game.

[@claukhatib]

Damn, great video!

[@SuperBC10]

Very well done. Thank you for this.

[@dead_eye_betyar]

good job man, well done.

[@brooksdawson96]

Still learning of RDR2. Rockstar is incredible. Great work Henry

[@bluefloyd00]

Nice work!

[@Vuloce]

Excellent video sir.

[@charliebates9098]

Best game ever made! Awesome video brother!!

[@franciscocaballero2604]

Great video, loved it. But where’s Tumbleweed, Armadillo, Rhodes and maybe, all these little stop in places, like Wallace Station, Manzanita Post, Quaker’s Cove? Looking forward to the next video 👌

[@Jk-ph3zy]

Great video Thanks for sharing

[@austinmiller6452]

Great video! Can you do one for Rhodes, Tumbleweed, and Armadillo?

[@86canario95]

Tumbleweed = Bodie. Rhodes = Baton Rouge and Rhodes (iowa) Armadillo = Amarillo and Tres cruces.

[@billyshears2032]

always assumed tumbleweed was tombstone

[@billyshears2032]

you know since both are compound words that begin with t

[@davejack3763]

Django soundtrack fits in well nice work!

[@maskedlaugh]

cool video!! very well done.

[@Maurice-mk5cl]

I really liked this video!

[@Penssteel1]

As an “older guy” really enjoyed your video and I love playing this game. Pittsburgh does have an H at the end of it, thanks very much for the video.

[@Penssteel1]

I watched the video w/ sound and thought it was Pittsburgh Pa. A former coal and steel town.

[@andrewh3079]

Great video thanks

[@grandchamp7783]

Great Video

[@anthonybelyea1964]

One of my favorite games ever and I'm also a history buff. I am old for gamer cuz I'm 60 still have my PlayStation 1 2 3 and 4 thanks for your effort it was much appreciated👍🏼😎🇨🇦

[@jasonfonseca8775]

Loving the payback from django at the end as well as throughout the video💪🏻💪🏻

[@bryanhall1548]

@HenryFilms Love the content, brother. Keep it coming. 🤠

[@bryanhall1548]

Thanks for the heart, brother. Do you accept story mode outfit suggestions from subscribers and non subscribers?

[@thejimd]

This rules! Looking forward to the next one

[@hoohoosier]

Nice touch with the Two Mules for Sister Sara soundtrack in the background.

[@1div2agent74]

Great video

[@ChigWigASMR]

Cool video!

[@swilson-738]

Great video, I might have to check you out

[@LeviDaManJabroni]

Awesome video

[@kitus112233]

Great video, looking forward for another one for Chuparosa and Escalera, give mexico some love please

[@Angel-Otk]

Let’s all move to Strawberry and act like cowboys 🤠

[@Its_Steeeve]

This was extremely interesting!

[@joblo2671]

Really well done...thank u for making this cool video I see you've worked hard on it! As an older gamer (43) who just played rdr2 for the first time very recently (it helps a lot waiting a few years 😅) , but also am a student of history, this was one thing that I kept wondering about (and it wasn't 100% apparent exactly what they were parodying) while playing...Bravo!😮

[@MrJack1992]

Actually it makes sense everything in red dead redemption 2 is west of the Mississippi even the Appalachia part of the map is still based on the Ozark mountain region in Missouri, and Arkansas which is heavily wooded, mountainous, and has cave systems.

[@theshepherd9382]

great video